Google Glass could create waves of change

Tablets have truly changed how we communicate, collaborate, play and do business. And certainly tablets have had success in education, too.

Nearly three years after the launch of the iPad tablet, Google Glass was annouced. The mission of Google Glass is to create a truly ubiquitous computing environment where information appears anywhere and everywhere. For $1,500 –and after completing an application and receiving an

This is what Google Glass looks like for the user, or Explorer. Image is courtesy of Creative Commons.

invitation code — the purchaser (called “Explorer”) receives a pair of frames similar to glasses with a single square block sitting off to the right-hand side. By using simple touch and voice commands, the Explorer has access to emails, text messages, directions and the entire breadth of information that can be garnered from a Google search.

At first glance, Google Glass does not look like something that could make an immediate impact in education. It can be difficult to navigate, does not have a great battery life, and there are questions about proper etiquette as to where and when it is appropriate to wear. The concept will be further developed, miniaturized and integrated into other things we wear, such as glasses, contact lenses or even embedded into our brains. The impact in our classrooms will be dynamic.

As searches for information become so simple for students, it begs the question: What kind of questions are we asking, or should we be asking? Regurgitation of facts is becoming less important in education, including in the Rockford Public Schools. Instead, technology should be redefining our educational landscapes through the creation of new tasks that were previously inconceivable.

The role of the teacher as the sage on the stage is disappearing. Yet, technology is making the role of the teacher even more important to help synthesize these learning moments.

James O’Hagan is Director of Instructional Technology and Library Services for the Rockford Public Schools. He also is a member of the Rockford Public Library Board of Trustees.